8th August 2011, 11:15 AM
chiz Wrote:Wax, just where has the IfA constantly failed 'to stand up for us' on the cuts issue? People keep saying this but its not something I recognise. What exactly do you think they are doing at the moment? There's a lot wrong with the IfA, and I'm in there trying to get that changed along with the rest of the Diggers' Forum, but Pete Hinton et al are lobbying hard to keep developer funded archaeology in existance. Have a look on their news page and you'll see some of what the ifa staff are doing to defend heritage from cuts: from writing to councils and ministers, to providing factsheets on what archaeology is worth economically so people can write letters, to responding to all the potential changes to legislation. But those who don't want to see it won't see it. I had an email from a mate complaining about how the IfA had done nothing about Fengate, when I pointed out the IfA wrote to the council the next day the complaint was changed to be that they didn't publicise their letter -it was on their website...oh, and putting a 'stirring' smiley after your post doesn't mean you are being clever or mysterious
If all the ranters on here actually got off their butts and actually DID something to make archaeology a better profession we might have something a bit better. Keyboard warriors all bitching and sniping, its so predictable I could write your posts for you! The reason archaeology is in a mess is because of all of us. Noone can be arsed to do anything to improve it, they'd rather sit around scratching their arses and writing shite. When David tried to get his Federation going noone could be arsed, when he tried to get you to unionise, noone could be arsed, when the DF try and get people onto IfA council so we can vote in minima rises, noone can be arsed to vote. You have all got the profession you deserve. Well done.!
Re the AAI&S and the ISSIG, the most daft thing to me was the AAI&S committee seemed to think that the IfA would suddenly provide money and time to take over the roles of committee. From my participation in the Diggers' Forum I know that while the IfA staff are really helpful and work very hard to help, you still need a group of dedicated committee members to run the group. I am apparently a member of the ISSIG yet have never recieved a newsletter or email from them. As far as I can tell the group effectively doesn't exist at the moment -because noone has the time or inclination to do anything for everyone else. Since the AAI&S members don't have the time to run the AAI&S, how will they suddenly find the time to run the ISSIG? Or are they expecting the existing ISSIG members (who don't appear to currently do anything as a group) to do it for them?
I agree that there's no point ranting if you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is.
I don't agree with your comments about the AAI&S and ISSIG. I can see how it might be interpreted that the AAI&S council thought there would be money etc provided by the IfA but speaking as a former council member... money was not the issue. The issue was time, people and commitment to undertake the administrative tasks not the running of the association in general. Without people ready and able to get involved nothing happens... as you were saying before. There is a full understanding that work does not stop and get handed over to the IfA, proactivity is key. The ISSIG group does exist and I suggest if you want to get involved you do so. Contact them rather than waiting for them to contact you.
The apathy is endemic, and rather dissapointingly so is the 'them and us' attitude which still seems to be crippling the ability of archaeologists to unite. I think the IfA is as good a banner as any to do this under as it is what you make of it.
I really can't see why chartered status is such a problem? Are your standards so poor that you're not prepared to sign up to a code of conduct? (Nope didn't think they were) and subs are dependent on earnings so what's the problem there?